Weeds Take Over $145 Million Borteyman Sports Complex Just Two Years After African Games
State-of-the-art facility shows signs of neglect as concerns grow over maintenance of Ghana’s premier sporting infrastructure
By Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi & Emmanuel Ayiku | GhanaianNewsCanada | Accra, Ghana | July 16,2026
The Borteyman Sports Complex, one of Ghana’s flagship sporting facilities built for the 13th African Games, is showing alarming signs of neglect, with overgrown weeds spreading across parts of the multimillion-dollar complex barely two years after its completion.
The facility, constructed at an estimated cost of US$145 million, was hailed as one of the country’s most significant investments in sports infrastructure ahead of the continental competition held in Accra in 2024. Today, however, images emerging from the venue reveal vegetation overtaking sections of the complex, raising fresh questions about maintenance, sustainability and the long-term management of national sports facilities.
The Borteyman Sports Complex was designed to serve as a lasting legacy of the African Games, featuring world-class venues for swimming, tennis, badminton, table tennis and other indoor sporting disciplines. It was expected to become a centre for athlete development, international competitions and community sports activities long after the Games ended.
However, the growing presence of weeds around parts of the facility has sparked concern among sports enthusiasts and members of the public, many of whom fear that inadequate maintenance could undermine the substantial public investment made in the project.
Observers argue that allowing such a strategic national asset to deteriorate would not only diminish Ghana’s sporting ambitions but also increase future maintenance and rehabilitation costs.
The development has renewed calls for the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the National Sports Authority to implement a comprehensive maintenance strategy to preserve the country’s modern sporting infrastructure.
Sports administrators have repeatedly emphasized that world-class facilities require continuous upkeep, regular landscaping and sustainable funding if they are to remain fit for international competitions and athlete training.
Many Ghanaians believe the Borteyman Sports Complex represents more than just buildings and playing arenas—it symbolizes the country’s ambition to position itself as a leading destination for sports development in Africa.
With Ghana continuing to bid for major international sporting events, analysts say protecting facilities like Borteyman is essential to safeguarding the nation’s reputation and ensuring taxpayers receive long-term value from one of the largest sports infrastructure investments in the country’s history.
The condition of the complex is expected to fuel further public discussion about how Ghana can better preserve national assets after hosting major international events.
